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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 415 records · Page 23

Test report for 120-inch-diameter Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) model tests

The space shuttle solid rocket boosters (SRB's) will be jettisoned to impact in the ocean within a 200-mile radius of the launch site. Tests were conducted at Long Beach, California, using a 12-inch diameter Titan 3C model to simulate the full-scale characteristics of the prototype SRB during retrieval operations. The objectives of the towing tests were to investigate and assess the following: (1) a floating and towing characteristics of the SRB; (2) need for plugging the SRB nozzle prior to tow; (3) attach point locations on the SRB; (4) effects of varying the SRB configuration; (5) towing hardware; and (6) difficulty of attaching a tow line to the SRB in the open sea. The model was towed in various sea states using four different types and varying lengths of tow line at various speeds. Three attach point locations were tested. Test data was recorded on magnetic tape for the tow line loads and for model pitch, roll, and yaw characteristics and was reduced by computer to tabular printouts and X-Y plots. Profile and movie photography provided documentary test data.

Jones, W. C.↗

Span-Load Distribution as a Factor in Stability in Roll

This report gives the results of pressure-distribution tests made to study the effects on lateral stability of changing the span-load distribution on a rectangular monoplane wing model of fairly thick section. Three methods of changing the distribution were employed: variation in profile along the span to a thin symmetrical section at the tip, twist from +5 degrees to -15 degrees at the tip, and sweepback from +20 degrees to -20 degrees. The tests were conducted in a 5-foot closed-throat atmospheric wind tunnel. The investigation shows the following results: (1) change in profile along the span from the NACA-84 at the root to the NACA-M2 at the tip considerably reduces lateral instability, but also reduces the general effectiveness of the wing. (2) washout up to 11 degrees progressively reduces maximum lateral instability. (3) transition from sweepforward to sweepback gradually reduces the useful angle-of-attack range, but has no clearly defined effect on maximum lateral instability.

Knight, Montgomery↗

Biomechanical Evaluation of Russian BD-1 Treadmill during Non-Motorized Treadmill Locomotion in a Weightless Environment (KC-135)

Subjects are able to successfully perform locomotion exercise on the BD-1 treadmill in weightlessness. The BD-1 bungee system has limited adjustability and provides higher loading for small subjects and lower loading for larger subjects. Some subjects have difficulty reaching and maintaining higher speeds starting at around 14 km/h. The ground reaction force profile for BD-1 locomotion shows peak propulsive forces comparable to 1g, but the heel strike peak appears to be absent during running on the BD-1 in weightlessness. These observations have implications for exercise prescriptions for BD-1 treadmill use on-board ISS.

Schaffner, Grant↗

Programmed-pressure air supply for positive-pressure breathing system

Motor-driven cam varies height of mercury column connected to loading diaphragm of pressure-regulating valve. Air supplied to open-loop, positive pressure breathing system is controlled so repetitive pressure--time profiles can be obtained during every insufflation--exhaust cycle.

Troutman, S. J., Jr.↗

Computer simulation of shock wave boundary layer interaction

Development of a boundary layer correction for an analysis program previously used by Bauer et al. (1972) to study two-dimensional flow past transonic airfoils at off-design conditions where shocks which interact with the boundary layer appear. Using a method which combines conformal mapping with a finite-difference scheme due to Murman and Cole (1971), an analysis is made of the interaction between shock waves on a supercritical wing section and a turbulent boundary layer, assuming that the shocks are weak and that separation is insignificant. It is shown that relatively simple shock wave/boundary layer interactions of the kind envisioned in this study can be treated by determining the displacement thickness iteratively together with the flow and altering the profile accordingly. It is concluded that the proposed boundary layer correction appears to furnish an essential improvement in cases where both pronounced aft loading and a large enclosed supersonic region of flow are present.

Bauer, F.↗

Energy efficient engine, low-pressure turbine boundary layer program

A study was conducted to investigate development of boundary layers under the influence of velocity distributions simulating the suction side of two state-of-the-art turbine airfoils: a forward loaded airfoil (squared-off design) and an aft loaded airfoil (aft-loaded design). These velocity distributions were simulated in a boundary layer wind tunnel. Detailed measurements of boundary layer mean velocity and turbulence intensity profiles were obtained for an inlet turbulence level of 2.4 percent and an exit Reynolds number of 800,000. Flush-mounted hot film probes identified the boundary layer transition regimes in the adverse pressure gradient regions for both velocity distributions. Wall intermittency data showed good agreement with the correlations of Dhawan and Narasimha for the intermittency factor distribution in transitional flow regimes.

Gardner, W. B.↗

Dynamic Analysis of Spur Gear Transmissions (DANST). PC Version 3.00 User Manual

DANST is a FORTRAN computer program for static and dynamic analysis of spur gear systems. The program can be used for parametric studies to predict the static transmission error, dynamic load, tooth bending stress and other properties of spur gears as they are influenced by operating speed, torque, stiffness, damping, inertia, and tooth profile. DANST performs geometric modeling and dynamic analysis for low- or high-contact-ratio spur gears. DANST can simulate gear systems with contact ratios ranging from one to three. It was designed to be easy to use and it is extensively documented in several previous reports and by comments in the source code. This report describes installing and using a new PC version of DANST, covers input data requirements and presents examples.

Oswald, Fred B.↗

Underexpanded Supersonic Plume Surface Interactions: Applications for Spacecraft Landings on Planetary Bodies

Numerical and experimental investigations of both far-field and near-field supersonic steady jet interactions with a flat surface at various atmospheric pressures are presented in this paper. These studies were done in assessing the landing hazards of both the NASA Mars Science Laboratory and Phoenix Mars spacecrafts. Temporal and spatial ground pressure measurements in conjunction with numerical solutions at altitudes of approx.35 nozzle exit diameters and jet expansion ratios (e) between 0.02 and 100 are used. Data from steady nitrogen jets are compared to both pulsed jets and rocket exhaust plumes at Mach approx.5. Due to engine cycling, overpressures and the plate shock dynamics are different between pulsed and steady supersonic impinging jets. In contrast to highly over-expanded (e <1) and underexpanded exhaust plumes, results show that there is a relative ground pressure load maximum for moderately underexpanded (e approx.2-5) jets which demonstrate a long collimated plume shock structure. For plumes with e much >5 (lunar atmospheric regime), the ground pressure is minimal due to the development of a highly expansive shock structure. We show this is dependent on the stability of the plate shock, the length of the supersonic core and plume decay due to shear layer instability which are all a function of the jet expansion ratio. Asymmetry and large gradients in the spatial ground pressure profile and large transient overpressures are predominantly linked to the dynamics of the plate shock. More importantly, this study shows that thruster plumes exhausting into martian environments possess the largest surface pressure loads and can occur at high spacecraft altitudes in contrast to the jet interactions at terrestrial and lunar atmospheres. Theoretical and analytical results also show that subscale supersonic cold gas jets adequately simulate the flow field and loads due to rocket plume impingement provided important scaling parameters are in agreement. These studies indicate the critical importance of testing and modeling plume-surface interactions for descent and ascent of spacecraft and launch vehicles.

Mehta, M.↗

A Synthesis Method to Auralize Rotor Noise During Transitional Flight

This paper describes a new capability to synthesize Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicle rotor/propeller loading and thickness noise and broadband self noise for transitional flight auralization. A vehicle smoothly transitioning between flight states is approximated here as transitioning in time through a series of trimmed steady-state flight conditions. To generate information that helps synthesize loading and thickness noise for transitional flight, this paper describes the development of a tool that combines blade loading, motion, and geometry data from a series of separate trimmed flight states. This paper also describes a method to combine broadband self noise acoustic predictions, each representing a separate trimmed flight state, to synthesize broadband self noise for transitional flight. Different flight profiles of the six-passenger NASA UAM Quadrotor reference vehicle demonstrate these capabilities, with each profile specified by a series of trimmed flight states.

Auralization↗

Evaluation of structural design concepts for an arrow-wing supersonic cruise aircraft

An analytical study was performed to determine the best structural approach for design of primary wing and fuselage structure of a Mach 2.7 arrow wing supersonic cruise aircraft. Concepts were evaluated considering near term start of design. Emphasis was placed on the complex interactions between thermal stress, static aeroelasticity, flutter, fatigue and fail safe design, static and dynamic loads, and the effects of variations in structural arrangements, concepts and materials on these interactions. Results indicate that a hybrid wing structure incorporating low profile convex beaded and honeycomb sandwich surface panels of titanium alloy 6Al-4V were the most efficient. The substructure includes titanium alloy spar caps reinforced with boron polyimide composites. The fuselage shell consists of hat stiffened skin and frame construction of titanium alloy 6Al-4V. A summary of the study effort is presented, and a discussion of the overall logic, design philosophy and interaction between the analytical methods for supersonic cruise aircraft design are included.

Sakata, I. F.↗

CO2 lidar observations of Mount Pinatubo debris: FIRE 2 and longer-term measurements

The volcanic debris in the stratosphere from the June 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo first appeared over the NOAA Wave Propagation Laboratory (WPL) field site near Boulder, Colorado (40.15 N, 105.23 W), in July of 1991. The presence of the Pinatubo cloud has allowed us to characterize both the tropospheric and stratospheric aerosol backscatter using the NOAA/WPL CO2 Doppler lidar. The lidar has measured vertical backscatter profiles at lambda = 10.59 mu m for over a decade. Analysis of this dense set of profiles reveals the effects of atmospheric and microphysical processes during the buildup and decay of Mt. Pinatubo's clouds. Further information on the NOAA lidar, specifically calibrations using a hard target, can be found in Post and Cupp (1990). We present results of those measurements for June 15, 1991, through December 31, 1992. During that period of longer-term measurements, WPL took part in FIRE II (First ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) Regional Experiment II), from November 12 through December 8, 1991, measuring vertical backscatter profiles almost daily. One of the mechanisms for purging stratospheric aerosols is tropopause folding, which occurs in cold-core extratropical cyclones. Tropospheric mass loading occurs during folding events which can substantially increase the amount of ice nuclei in the upper troposphere, and may affect the formation of cirrus in that region. Spring and fall are prominent times for tropopause folding events because of the migration of the subtropical and polar jet streams during the transition seasons. Sassen has suggested that the volcanic aerosols from Pinatubo played a role in the formation of cirrus during FIRE II, particularly during a period of moist subtropical flow on December 5-6, 1991.

Levinson, David H.↗

Multidisciplinary Probabilistic Heat Transfer/Structural Analysis Code Developed: NESTEM

High-Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) engine combustor liners are subjected to complex thermal environments and have to endure these for thousands of hours with assured reliability. In the past, several deterministic analyses have been performed, including detailed heat transfer analyses to obtain thermal profiles and deterministic stress analyses to identify critical locations of high stresses. Actual rig tests also have been performed for segments by simulating these loading situations as closely as possible. However, it is well known that many uncertainties exist in loading (primarily thermal loads due to heat transfer), boundary conditions (end fixity unknowns), and material properties (moduli, thermal-expansion coefficients, and conductivities). The present in-house effort at the NASA Lewis Research Center is directed toward accounting for these in a formal way to assess the performance of liner components under complex and uncertain loading conditions as well as subject to other geometry- and material-related uncertainties.

Murthy, Pappu L. N.↗

Far-field wake-vortex characteristics of wings

Velocity measurements have been made in the wake of wings that were being towed underwater. As the wake aged, measurements of the tangential and axial velocity profiles were made with a two-dimensional scanning laser velocimeter at downstream distances of 5 to 200 span lengths behind wings with different span loadings. The results identify two characteristic flow regions for the dependence of vortex maximum tangential velocity on downstream distance. The first, a region with little, if any, change in maximum tangential velocity, extends from wake rollup to downstream distances as great as 100 span lengths, depending on span loading and angle of attack. This is followed by a decay region in which the maximum tangential velocity decreases with downstream distance at rates nominally proportional to the inverse one-half power.

Ciffone, D. L.↗

Design study of structural concepts for an arrow-wing supersonic-cruise aircraft

An analytical study was performed to determine the best structural approach for design of primary wing and fuselage structure of a Mach number 2.7 arrow-wing supersonic cruise aircraft. Concepts were evaluated considering near-term start-of-design. Emphasis was placed on the complex interactions between thermal stress, static aeroelasticity, flutter, fatigue and fail-safe design, static and dynamic loads, and the effects of variations in structural arrangements, concepts and materials on these interactions. Results indicate that a hybrid wing structure incorporating low-profile convex-beaded and honeycomb sandwich surface panels of titanium alloy 6Al-4V were the most efficient. The substructure includes titanium alloy spar caps reinforced with Boron-polyimide composites. The fuselage shell is a closed-hat stiffened skin and frame construction of titanium alloy 6Al-4V. This paper presents an executive summary of the study effort, and includes a discussion of the overall study logic, design philosophy and interaction between the analytical methods for supersonic cruise aircraft design.

Sakata, I. F.↗

Hydrodynamic air lubricated compliant surface bearing for an automotive gas turbine engine. 1: Journal bearing performance

A 38.1 mm (1.5 inch) diameter Hydresil Compliant Surface Air Lubricated Journal Bearing was designed and tested to obtain bearing performance characteristics at both room temperature and 315 C (600 F). Testing was performed at various speeds up to 60,000 rpm with varying loads. Rotating sensors provided an opportunity to examine the film characteristics of the compliant surface bearing. In addition to providing minimum film thickness values and profiles, many other insights into bearing operation were gained such as the influence of bearing fabrication accuracy and the influence of smooth foil deflection between the bumps.

Ruscitto, D.↗

Space disposal of nuclear wastes

The DOE has been studying several options for nuclear waste disposal, among them space disposal, which NASA has been assessing. Attention is given to space disposal destinations noting that a circular heliocentric orbit about halfway between Earth and Venus is the reference option in space disposal studies. Discussion also covers the waste form, showing that parameters to be considered include high waste loading, high thermal conductivity, thermochemical stability, resistance to leaching, fabrication, resistance to oxidation and to thermal shock. Finally, the Space Shuttle nuclear waste disposal mission profile is presented.

Priest, C. C.↗

Dilution Jet Experiments in Compact Combustor Configurations

The effects of cooling jets on the velocity and temperature fields in a compact reverse flow combustion are discussed. The work is motivated by the need to limit the temperature of past-combustion gases in jet engines to values within the endurance capabilities of turbine blades. The application requires not only that the temperature be kept sufficiently low but also that a suitably tailored temperature profile be provided at the combustor exit, with higher temperatures generally permissible at the blade tip than at the blade root because of higher centrifugal loads at the root. A single jet. As spacing is reduced, jet penetration is also reduced, and the cooling jets tend to remain close to the wall from which they are injected. Results suggest that cooling and temperature distribution tailoring can be accomplished without injecting cooling jets upstream of the turn, and thus it appears that combustors can be made smaller than current designs.

Greber, I.↗

Dilution jet experiments in compact combustor configurations

This project concerns the effects of cooling jets on the velocity and temperature fields in a compact reverse flow combustor. The work is motivated by the need to limit the temperatures of post combustion gases in jet engines to values within the endurance capabilities of turbine blades. The application requires not only that the temperature be kept sufficiently low but also that a suitably tailored temperature profile be provided at the combustor exit, with higher temperatures generally permissible at the blade tip than at the blade root because of higher centrifugal loads at the root. Flows in reverse flow combustor accelerate both longitudinally because of area changes and transversely because of flow turning. The current project started with flow visualization experiments in water, using aqueous solutions of zinc bromide to model the relatively higher density of cooling jets.

Greber, I.↗